In an increasingly technology-driven world, we are inundated on a daily basis with data that, at first glance, appears too complex to decode. Data analytics allows us to mine and harness these rich seams of information for insights that can improve our lives in a myriad of ways - helping businesses understand customer behaviour, improving healthcare at personal and global levels, feedback to enhance athlete performance, helping science and research unlock the secrets of our universe, detecting and preventing cyber attacks or fraud, and creating smarter cities and countries.

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, which advises the Irish government on current and future skills needs of the country, reports that there could be an estimated 21,000 potential job openings in Big Data and Analytics skills by 2020.

Set in the context of an international report from McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) which estimates that, by 2018 the United States will experience a shortage of 190,000 skilled data scientists, and 1.5 million managers and analysts capable of reaping actionable insights from the big data deluge - an estimated 40,000 exabytes of data being collected by 2020 - the implications of this shortage become apparent.

In response to this and, in keeping with its reputation for developing expertise in areas of major technological significance, Dublin City University has announced two new initiatives - the country’s first BSc in Data Science and the AIB Chair in Data Analytics.

The ICT sector in Ireland is thriving, with exports and employment in both indigenous and multinational firms continuing to grow. It’s no surprise that DCU’s Faculty of Engineering and Computing hosted their biggest ever final year project Expo with over 207 projects on show from over 220 graduating students.

A combination of both Engineering and Computing disciplines, employers came to view the projects from 8am and the campus was still buzzing with atmosphere right through to lunchtime.

Prof. Barry McMullin, Dean of the Faculty said "It is clear from the number of employers present we have an exceptional group of talented students who continue to innovate and deliver futuristic ideas. An endless mix of project types and various technologies is testament to the quality of students here in the Faculty of Engineering and Computing".

Two School of Computing CPSSD teams took the top 2 places at this year's IrlCPC on Saturday 2nd April in UCC. 39 Teams took part in this algoritmic programming competition from 10 different 3rd level instituitions including a team from Oxford University England.

2nd year CPSSD students Darragh Griffin, Conor Griffin and Terry Bolt claimed 1st place with 36 points overall with 1st year CPSSD students Noah Donnelly, Cian Ruane and Stefan Kennedy taking 2nd place with 35 points. Amazingly the AIPO team of John Ryan, Teofil Camarsu and Eoin Davey scored the most points of any team with 38 but did not qualify for the prizes as they are not at university yet.

A charity programming competition in aid of Childline, through 100minds, is being held in the School of Computing this Thursday the 10th March in LG25 @ 5pm.

Undergraduate Computing students are hoping to raise as much money as possible for this great charity by using their programming skills. DCU Spar has kindly offered to donate to the Childline charity for every problem solved in the competition.

The competition is a team competition and will last 3 hours with problems pitched at all skill levels. To register you team, raise money for Childline and have a bit of fun, register here: http://mycode.doesnot.run/childline/